The Beauty and Plight of Birds are Addressed in the Movie The Messenger

This week, Dave and I attended the second movie in The Future of Nature Film Series sponsored by The Nature Conservancy. The Messenger was presented with support from Harvest Capital, Orr & Reno and Eastern Bank and held at the Red River Theatres in Concord, New Hampshire. The Future of Nature Film Series is a great opportunity to delve deeper into an environmental topic by watching a film, and then engaging in a Q & A session with a panel of experts.

Savannah Sparrows have a beautiful song

The movie is about the importance of song birds to our planet and their current struggle to survive.  The Messenger is beautifully filmed with the opening scene of a single colorful bird flying in slow motion. It truly captures the miracle of flight. Whether you enjoy flying in an airplane, or not, who hasn't imagined being able to float effortlessly in the sky with no mechanical assistance? The colorful beauty and melody of birds has inspired artists, poets and musicians over the centuries. Although this quote from Harper Lee's famous book "Mockingbirds don’t do one thing except make music for us to enjoy." minimizes the numerous benefits that birds provide to the environment, there is no question that all humans can appreciate them for the single trait of their song.

The movie touches upon a host of topics related to birds across the globe including migratory patterns, hunting traditions in France, songbirds role in the origins of music in Germany, and threats to their existence. Songbirds have shown a drastic decline over the past 50 years, almost 50 percent in North America, according to monitoring studies. Among the reasons for songbirds decline presented in the movie are mortality from building strikes, light pollution, pesticides, habitat destruction and predation by cats. I learned that songbirds migrate at night, so that excessive lighting in urban areas can disrupt their migration patterns. I also learned that neonicotinoids, a pesticide known to adversely effect bees, have been detected in surface water near farm fields that have previously grown plants that were derived from neonicotinoid treated seeds. It is suspected that this pesticide may be killing aquatic born insects, a major food source for many birds.

The movie ends somberly with a display of hundreds, maybe thousands of dead birds, laid out in a geometric pattern on the floor. If we want future generations to continue to hear and admire these graceful creatures, we all need to take action. It could be a simple act such as keeping your cat indoors, eliminating pesticides or providing food and shelter in your yard. On  a larger scale we can lobby for bans on neonicotinoid pesticides and help support land conservation efforts in the United States as well as in other countries where birds congregate and live after migrating south.

Fall has Arrived

Summer is never long enough for me. Today, marks the first day of fall. The autumnal equinox will occur at 10:21 this morning if you are in Eastern Daylight Time Zone in the United States. This is when the sun will be directly over the equator and the length of day and night will be almost equal across the globe. After this date in the northern hemisphere, the daylight hours will progressively shorten until the beginning of winter. Although I do feel ready to slow down a bit and turn my attention to things indoors, I love the long days of summer, the smell of cut grass, and the sound of insects at night. I know that my senses will be able to experience these things for a few more weeks, but change is in the air, even with our September temperatures being way above normal during the day and at night. This is most apparent with earlier sunsets and later sunrises. that signal it is time for harvesting and getting preparations together for winter.

With the end of summer comes the end of most of the garden's harvest. Last Friday was the Harvest Moon, the full moon closest to the fall equinox. It seemed that some animal, perhaps this deer (below) whose family makes regular trips across our lawn, took the name literally and devoured two out of my four sugar pumpkins.Since they had only fruited a few weeks before, they were mostly green, with just a tinge of orange.

Looking innocent here.

There were no signs of where this pumpkin went

Perhaps this one was too big to carry away

The survivor

I picked one (at right,) hoping it will ripen more inside, and left the remaining green one in the garden.  

One benefit of the shorter days of late summer and fall is that it encourages mushrooms to grow. While walking in the woods, I discovered a large growth of Laetiporus sulphureus, also called "chicken-of-the-woods." This specimen was fresh and perfect for picking.   Even though it is known as one of the "foolproof four" I will add the warning that all mushroom books and websites have - which is to never consume any part of a mushroom without certainty of its identification. This article from Cornell University provides a good description of this species, including warnings about variaties of Laetiporus which can be poisonous. Species that grow on eucalyptus (L.  gilbertsonii) or conifer trees (L. huroniensis and L. conifericola) should not be consumed.

Laetiporus sulphureus or "Chicken of the Woods"

Another precaution is that when eating a new variety of mushroom for the first time, you should only consume a small amount, because even edible mushrooms can cause an allergic or adverse reaction in some people. This fungus gets its common name from the fact that when cooked, it resembles chicken in taste and texture. I find that the best way to prepare it is to simply fry it in butter. Below is some that I sauteed and then added to a salad. It was delicious.

The Battle Road Trail - Minute Man National Historical Park

Entrance to Battle Road Trail from Minute Man Visitor Center

One of the benefits of living in New England is being surrounded by early American history. The events of April 19th, 1775, the day that marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War, are documented along the Battle Road Trail in Minute Man National Historical Park, Lexington, Massachusetts. The park is just a short distance off Interstate 93 and since I had a free afternoon last week after dropping friends off at Logan Airport, I decided to park my car at the Minuteman Visitor's Center and with a backpack, water and snacks, set out to explore the area. At the visitors center I picked up a map of the Battle Road Trail and learned that it would be approximately five miles  one-way to the opposite end of the trail, at Meriam's Corner where the British retreat began. The trail goes past preserved houses and buildings and grave sites with historical descriptions along the way. It would be easy to spend an entire day learning about the events of that historic day. 

Whittemore House

Hartwell Tavern

Even though it is only a short drive from the interstate, the park is surprisingly rural and provides a nice opportunity to step away from the traffic and congestion and appreciate nature, in addition to history.

The trail goes by and over restored wetlands. Above is a dried up blackberry bush filled with berries. It made me wonder why a bird or animal did not eat them when they were in their prime. Burdock (to the right) is an attractive plant, particularly in late summer when the pink flowers show. The plant is common in England and became naturalized in North America by English and French settlers.

A boardwalk goes over a beautiful wetland meadow abundant with cattails and wildflowers.

The site where Paul Revere's ride was stopped short by his capture, is memorialized at this monument.

He was released only a few hours later. Samuel Prescott, a Patriot who had joined Revere and William Dawes, escaped and continued the alert on to Concord.

Markers of grave sites can be seen along the route, like this stone marker for several British soldiers. It must have been difficult that first day, realizing that war had finally begun.

It's August, with the shortened days and cool evenings, mushrooms and fungi are everywhere, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. Below are examples of two interesting fungi I saw along the trail. I wish I were better at identification. The first one below looked to me like a Chanterelle, but since it was growing from a dead log, I know that it was not. Could it be Laetiporus sulphureus or Chicken of the Woods?

Whatever this fungi is, it was very wet and seemed to be just starting to grow, a type of polypore?

Just before arriving at Meriam's Corner, the trail goes around an active farm. Here there was lots of activity, from workers picking produce, to birds singing and butterflies sipping nectar.

Eastern Bluebird

Common Sulfur

A field of sunflowers had been recently cut. It seemed a shame that there were many flowers left on the ground to die without setting seed. I am not sure why so many had been forgotten.

I had originally intended to continue walking along the road all the way to the North Bridge in Concord, but after reaching the end of the trail, I realized that it would be adding five or six more miles to the ten-mile round trip walk and decided to save that portion of the park for another day. This was a good decision because by the time I returned to the visitor center, I was pretty exhausted, having skipped lunch as well.

The day started out drizzly, but ended with blue skies

 Resources:
http://fyi.uwex.edu/weedsci/1997/11/02/common-burdock/
http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/b/burdoc87.html
Minute Man National Historical Park - https://www.nps.gov/mima/index.htm

Sweet Potato and Kale Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing

Kale is plentiful in my garden year round, so it is easy to whip up a quick salad for dinner. This recipe with sweet potatoes is perfect for late summer or fall.

Ingredients

2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and diced

1 small head of romaine chopped

1 cup kale

Olive oil

1/2 cup golden raisins

1 heaping tablespoon peanut butter

1 heaping tablespoon chutney

1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 tablespoon lemon juice

• Coat diced sweet potatoes with olive oil, spread on baking sheet and bake 375 degrees until softened (30 to 45 minutes), turning every 15 minutes.
• Wash kale, coat in olive oil and chop fine. Mix with romaine and add to salad bowl with raisins. Keep Chilled.
•  Make dressing: In food processor, combine remaining ingredients. When sweet potatoes are done, cool slightly, then add to salad and mix in dressing. Best serve while slightly warm.

Adapted from Mambosprouts.com

Saving Pollinators - The Power of Advocacy

Bee on Anise Hyssop

If you follow my blog, you may recall that last year, I inadvertently bought some plants from Home Depot that had been treated with Neonicotinoids. This class of pesticides adversely affect bees by interfering with their navigation capabilities, lowering their immune systems and fertility rates, all things which can result in premature death.I wrote to management and received a generic response. But, several months later, the result of increased public pressure resulted in Home Depot making a pledge in December to phase out all plants treated with neonicotinoids by 2018 (http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2015/12/03/home-depot-phase-out-bee-killing-pesticides) joining other similar large chain retailers such as Lowes.

A recent study by Friends of the Earth Gardeners Beware 2016 Followup Report  reported on the progress, and the work left to be done, toward the elimination of the use of neonicotinoid pesticides  on ornamental plants. In 2013 the results showed that 54% of the plants sampled contained neonicotinoids, whereas in 2016 that percentage had dropped to 23%. While these numbers are encouraging, there are still large retailers, including Walmart, Ace and True Value Hardware stores that have yet to take action against selling plants that have been treated with imidacloprid or similar neonicotinoid products. 

We should all remember that, as consumers, we can influence what products are and are not offered for sale by retailers. Make your voices heard, by writing letters, talking with management and making it clear that you care about the fate of pollinators and will only purchase plants from that are free of neonicotinoid pesticides.

Some garden centers take the protection of pollinators a step further, through positive actions, like Cole Gardens in Concord, NH which raised monarchs this summer and then held a butterfly information and release event this past weekend.  

The crowd admires the monarchs prior to their release

Even before the monarch release, pollinators were plentiful on the flowers that were for sale.

Fritillary on butterfly bush

Bumble bee on butterfly milkweed

After being released, this monarch didn't go far, stopping to sip some nectar before continuing on its journey. Some of the monarch's were tagged so that their travels can be tracked during their migration.This will provide valuable information to aid conservation efforts.

The turnout to watch the butterflies take flight was tremendous and it was encouraging to hear so many people talk about the plight of the monarch and their desire to do what they can to help in their own neighborhoods. I am more than happy to pay a little more for plants if it means that I will support a business that understands the importance of selling plants that not only look pretty, but that are also good for the environment.

Nature's Surprising Colors

It has been a busy summer, so much so that I haven't had time to simply walk around our yard to just listen and observe nature around me. This past Sunday morning I decided to do just that. As is typical, Nature was full of surprises. The first thing I noticed was the noise from all the birds - almost as loud as in the spring. There were quite a few robins, which was interesting because I haven't really noticed that many all summer. Up by one of my gardens, a hummingbird was sipping nectar from the Anise Hyssop and then perched itself on the fence. I ran back to the house to get my camera, and of course, by the time I returned it was gone. I spotted another unique bird at the top of a tree. It was yellow, but was larger than the goldfinches that frequent the thistle feeder and are abundant every morning. I took a snapshot of the bird and then ran back to the house to get my binoculars to get a better look. Alas, by the time I came back it had flown away. Fortunately, my one picture turned out pretty well.

Yellow bird in birch tree

I used my Merlin Bird ID App through Cornell Lab of Ornithology  to identify it. I was surprised to discover that it was a female Scarlet Tanager. Although I know that female birds are typically not as colorful as their mate, I did not know that the mate of this bright red and black bird could look so different. Similarly I learned last year that a female red-winged blackbird is brown with white streaks. Now I can readily spot them near wetlands.

Female Red-Winged Blackbird in a Vermont Wetland

As I continued to walk around the garden, I saw out of the corner of my eye what first appeared to be  a leaf on one of my raised bed frames. I took a closer look, and saw that it was a tiny frog.

I did not know what kind it was and was intrigued by the color. I looked it up later and identified it is a Gray Tree Frog. With that name alone I wouldn't have made the connection, but its scientific name is hyla versicolor - meaning variable in color. In fact, it changes color like a chameleon, although more slowly. I'm not sure if it knew if it was on a brown log or if it was trying to blend in with the green moss. It is also possible that this particular frog had recently metamorphosed, at which time they are typically bright green.

I was glad that I took the extra time to take a closer look at the environment that is literally outside our back door...you should too.

Two Studies Report on the Biodiversity of Grasslands

A team of over sixty researches, reported August 17th in Nature on the importance of biodiversity at all levels in providing ecosystem services. The study was done to address the limits of other research that focus only on a single trophic group. This study demonstrated that species richness across multiple trophic groups had a positive influence on the services that are provided in the environment. This means that when considering the importance of biodiversity to human health and the environment, it is important to look at all groups of life, such as insects above ground, as well as soil organisms that cannot be seen.

The study, lead by Dr. Santiago Soliveres from the University of Bern, evaluated 150 grasslands in Germany, looking at 4,600 species of plants and animals across nine trophic groups, including micro-organisms. Dr. Eric Allan from the University of Bern, said "Many different groups are important for providing essential ecosystem services. In order for nature to continue 'working' reliably for us we therefore need to protect biodiversity at all levels in the food chain". One implication is that by applying pesticides and synthetic fertilizers to the land, there may be short term gains in plant growth, but the long-term loss of biodiversity of insects, plants and micro-organisms could ultimately adversely impact life on the planet through loss of soil fertility and habitat that support numerous species that provide beneficial services such as pollinating insects.

Biodiversity is more than an abundance of plant life

Another paper published in August titled "The underestimated biodiversity of tropical grassy biomes" by Brett P. Murphy, Alan N. Andersen and Catherine L. Parr, demonstrated the importance of preserving grasslands in the tropics. While people are all too familiar with the biodiversity of rainforests and understand the importance of preserving this valuable ecosystem, the species richness of grasslands is often overlooked. This study looked at existing research and determined that even though plant biodiversity may be low, the diversity of vertebrate life is just as rich in high rainfall grasslands as it is in tropical forests and concluded that further research to aid in conservation efforts for these grasslands in needed to preserve their species biodiversity.

Not all tropical grasslands are protection like Serengeti National Park.

Photo Credit: courtesy of TripAdvisor

 Sources:

"Biodiversity at multiple trophic levels is needed for ecosystem multifunctionality"
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature19092.html#ref3

 "The underestimated biodiversity of tropical grassy biomes"  http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/371/1703/20150319